Crosslinked poly(acryloylmorpholine) and its copolymers poly(acryloyl morpholine-co-acrylic acid) and poly(acryloylmorpholine-co-2-acrylamide-2-methyl-propane sulfonic acid) were synthesized by radical polymerization. The resins were completely insoluble in water and were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The metal ions Ag(I), Cu(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Al(III), and Cr(III) were investigated under competitive and noncompetitive conditions by a batch equilibrium procedure. The resin-metal-ion equilibrium was achieved before 5 min. The recovery of the resin was investigated at 20 degrees C with different concentrations of HNO3 and HClO4 (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.